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Gingrich Thinks No Candidate a Match For the Clinton Machine
Washington Post ^ | Sep 14, 2007 | Dan Balz

Posted on 09/14/2007 6:05:28 PM PDT by indcons

Newt Gingrich, who must wake up each day spewing ideas and dispensing advice, offered a gloomy prognosis today of his party's chances of winning the White House in 2008 and his own prospects of running.

"I believe for any Republican to win in 2008, they have to have a clean break and offer a dramatic, bold change," he said. "If we nominate somebody who has not done that...they're very, very unlikely to win it."

Republicans must break with President Bush and separate themselves from the current state of the political system, he said, and so far none of the current candidates has met that test. But he also made clear that there is now almost no likelihood that he will become a candidate himself, having too little money, too much baggage and too much impatience for a successful campaign.

Gingrich, like many Republicans, believes Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee, and he spoke with some awe of the Clinton machine after remarking on the fact that, on the same day, Bill Clinton was on Oprah and Hillary Clinton was on the Ellen DeGeneres show. "As a professional, I am very, very impressed," he said.

Clinton can be defeated, he said, but only by the kind of campaign that none of the potential nominees is yet running. "None of the Republicans have figured out how to get a routine, repetitive explanation of the future that breaks out of the current situation and that's their primary challenge," he said. "Whoever does that will both, I think, win the nomination and have a realistic chance of defeating Sen. Clinton."

(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; clinton; clintonmachine; gingrich; hillary
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To: jrooney

Newt and all Republicans mouthpieces who get the media time, need to build up the Republicans instead of constantly tearing down.

We may have our faults, but not to the degree the Dems do,
and our positive attributes and much stronger. Everyone needs to get on the bandwagon so as to overcome the obstacles out there.


41 posted on 09/14/2007 6:32:16 PM PDT by elpadre
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To: indcons
Sometimes I think that Newt is the smartest guy around, and other times I think that he’s an ass. He is great at finding fault and disparaging Republican candidates. Why doesn’t he turn that ability toward the Dems for a change? Maybe he should look at his own personal flaws before attacking others.
42 posted on 09/14/2007 6:33:05 PM PDT by Ferox
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To: indcons
You know, Newt, just because you HAVE an opinion, doesn't mean you have to share it.

With friends like him, who needs enemas, I mean enemies! ;o)

43 posted on 09/14/2007 6:33:15 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: indcons
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
44 posted on 09/14/2007 6:33:19 PM PDT by rfp1234 (Nothing is better than eternal happiness. A ham sandwich is better than nothing. Therefore...)
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To: Maceman

What Newt did on global warming was politically smart.
He knew, at least for the time being, that fighting Big Green and the Global Warming Lobby is like shouting into the wind, and is a losing battle. So instead he did what no one else had, which is to say “OK, but your solution is wrong.” If things keep going the way it has been, the only salvation for our economy and our way of life may be paying lip service to the myth so we at least get a seat in the debate of what to do about it.


45 posted on 09/14/2007 6:33:35 PM PDT by counterpunch (Ron Paul is gearing up to be Hillary Clinton's Ross Perot.)
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To: jrooney
I wonder what Fred thinks Newt saying he is not the quality of a candiate to beat Hillary.

Who cares what Fred thinks about it?

The only thing that matters is, is it true?

46 posted on 09/14/2007 6:34:49 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Trails of troubles, roads of battle, paths of victory we shall walk.)
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To: elpadre
Amen. Newt has forgotten Reagan’s 11th amendment and his character is reaching the lows of his moral integrity.
47 posted on 09/14/2007 6:34:57 PM PDT by jrooney (The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
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To: magellan
“Newt presumes Clinton will win the nomination.
I do not believe this is pre-ordained. But let’s assume it to be true for the sake of argument.

At some point, Clinton’s scandals will be used as ammo by her Democrat opponents. The latest finance scandal, where $25k of illegal contributions suddenly became over $800k is a case in point.

Those negatives will weaken her. Plus, once the Republican nominee starts hitting on the same issues, Clinton will end up being hammered on scandals for a year straight.

I for one do not believe Clinton is as strong of a national candidate as some assume. Especially if the campaign is close, and Clinton has to do a lot of last minute stumping, her shrill voice is unlikely to convert voters.

The Nutroots can’t stand her, and may stay home if she gets the nomination.

As in the past, Ohio and Florida are in effect, the election.

Oh, and G.W. Bush is not running.”

There’s a lot of wisdom to what you say. In the end she is just a senator from NY and former White House caterer. Her negatives, especially in the southern states are very high.

Also I know it’s primary season and the candidates are sparring with one another (in both parties). But the dems in general are spending their time bashing Bush. Your last statement about that is very telling.

48 posted on 09/14/2007 6:36:02 PM PDT by samm1148 (Pennsylvania-They haven't taxed air--yet)
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To: rfp1234
I thing the GOP would do a lot better at fundraising if they hadn't pissed off most of their core supporters over the last six years of gluttony, waste and disdain.

I'm not sure who would be inspired to write a check to the GOP by having Newt tell them that the GOP is weak and has an 80% chance of losing.

According to him whoever you support is a loser. Might as well bet your money on tomorrow's Notre Dame (0-2) vs. Michigan (0-2) football game.

49 posted on 09/14/2007 6:36:40 PM PDT by Pan_Yan (All grey areas are fabrications)
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To: indcons

....I have to agree with him.

What do we want in ‘08? A North Eastern Liberal who will let in illegals, give our healthcare to government and raise taxes as high as they can or Hillary Clinton?

What a choice. :(:(:(


50 posted on 09/14/2007 6:36:43 PM PDT by Tzimisce (How Would Mohammed Vote? Hillary for President! www.dndorks.com)
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To: Jim Noble
He is an adviser for Fred. If you want to hang out with knife yielding associates that stand behind you, good luck with your short lived career.
51 posted on 09/14/2007 6:36:50 PM PDT by jrooney (The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
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To: indcons

Newt sure loves hillary. What’s the deal, newt? Think you’re gonna get some?


52 posted on 09/14/2007 6:38:10 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: counterpunch

Too clever by half, if you ask me. I think it is terribly short sighted to give any credence at all to the idea that anthropogenic global warming is proven science, and I expected better from Gingrich.

That’s the kind of thinking that got us RINO Republicans who agree that the government ought to be a big spending behemoth, and just disagree with Democrats on how the money should be spent.

And we know how well that approach has worked out for the country and the party.


53 posted on 09/14/2007 6:38:50 PM PDT by Maceman
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To: Proud2BAmerican
they'd ignite their conservative base to become so motivated to turn out the polls, and overwhelming victory

The "conservative base" is less than 30% of the electorate, perhaps less than 25%.

Actions which "ignite" them make winning the remaining votes to get to 51% less likely.

54 posted on 09/14/2007 6:39:41 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Trails of troubles, roads of battle, paths of victory we shall walk.)
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To: indcons

Well that’s it! we’re all doomed! Hey Newt go yourself you surrender weasel. You’re a suck up to the rat.


55 posted on 09/14/2007 6:41:56 PM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Union work: comparable value for twice the price.)
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To: WorkingClassFilth

100% correct statement.


56 posted on 09/14/2007 6:41:57 PM PDT by The Ghost of Rudy McRomney ("We just can't trust the American people to make the correct choices."-Hillary)
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To: indcons
The Clinton machine will destroy everything in the way. Women President with real blackness, a friend to Wall Street and gay people...a true leader. She has tried to fix healthcare already.

She will help you with your healthcare bills, your student loans and your mortgage. She will probably save the planet from Global Warming and negotiate with Bin Laden. This is a can't miss.

57 posted on 09/14/2007 6:42:37 PM PDT by alrea
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To: sushiman
Three things that must be taken into account:

1. The media is still very powerful and influences, perhaps, the majority of American voter's minds.

2. Nearly all major institutions in this nation are leftist strongholds - media, academe, the fourth estate (the 5th column).

3. Conservatives, by in large, are principle driven voters. Those among us that are drive by morals over pragmatism have seen the only chances of real reform of several generations thrown away by vacillating and posturing 'R' leadership. These opportunities will not come again for at least a generation. Meanwhile, 'R' leadership continues to prove it cannot even act in the nation's domestic defense against the open border invasion - in fact, our 'R' leaders aid the dilution and bleed-out of the country. These offenses are intolerable to all but the most numb-skulled neo-con ideologues or the most recent and green conservative converts. Unless we receive real leadership, the propaganda machinery of our latent socialist state will retake power and extinguish our ability to spark a grassroots rebellion again.
58 posted on 09/14/2007 6:43:34 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Have you developed your 2008 bug-out plan?)
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To: Jim Noble

As many as 52% of voters say they will not vote for Hillary. Evidently Newt left his calculator in Congress when he was forced out because you can’t win the presidency with high negative numbers like that.


59 posted on 09/14/2007 6:44:44 PM PDT by jrooney (The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
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To: Proud2BAmerican
This is because conservatism is an icon to be displayed and held aloft to the slobbering masses - not applied. Until we gut party leadership and gain control of the 'R' machine, we'll only get liberal-lite leadership.
60 posted on 09/14/2007 6:46:24 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Have you developed your 2008 bug-out plan?)
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